148: Difficulty in finding employment in holy sites and "reverse colonization"

The "high-quality local specialty" sent by the Main God Space—that set of stone tables and stools transformed from top-tier predators—was securely placed by the Pond behind the Star Gazing Hall. The chilling Law and Chaos Dao Rhyme inherent in their material intertwined, unexpectedly forming a wondrous balance with the Pond and the Star-Patterned Bamboo, adding a deeper sense of Concept to this small world.

Yun Feng was quite satisfied with this, feeling that Long Qianyuan had finally not wasted his efforts this time. As for Long Qianyuan himself, because of his meritorious "procurement," he was specially granted a "three-day vacation" by Yun Feng, allowing him to wander around the periphery of the Cloud Court as he pleased, as long as he didn't move any more strange "trash" to the Star Gazing Hall.

However, Long Qianyuan's vacation was not peaceful. He soon discovered that the employment situation on the periphery of the Cloud Court had become involuted to an outrageous degree.

Those ancient Holy Lands that had originally cried and shouted to move here, paying high "environmental maintenance fees," after experiencing the initial frenzy and the trend of "sunbathing to comprehend the Dao," gradually faced a grim reality—the Cloud Court really didn't care about anything!

Apart from not being allowed to make noise, not being allowed to damage the environment, and paying "rent" on time, the Cloud Court did not provide lectures on the Dao, did not open up its Legacy, and couldn't even be bothered to organize a decent "exchange activity." The Holy Land Leaders could still rely on their deep foundations to go into seclusion and comprehend the ethereal "Dao Rhyme," but what about the many Disciples and Elders under them? They couldn't just sit around sunbathing all day, could they?

Consequently, a "job-seeking wave" quietly arose on the periphery of the Cloud Court. The target was directed straight at the only place in the Cloud Court exposed to the outside world that seemed to have some "personnel needs"—the Cloud Court Peripheral Affairs Office, managed by Nie Li, and Long Qianyuan, the "well-connected person" who seemed relatively easy to talk to.

"Young Friend Long! No, Lord Long!" The Vice Pavilion Revered Master of the Heavenly Secret Martial Arts Pavilion, an old man who was usually full of dignity, was currently rubbing his hands together, his face filled with an almost sycophantic smile, as he stopped the wandering Long Qianyuan. "I have heard that your Court's affairs are complex and Manager Nie Li is busy with a thousand tasks every day. Our Pavilion is willing to dispatch ten core Elders, who will bring their own food, to assist in handling miscellaneous tasks, just to be able to comprehend your Court's Dao at close range!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Master of Wan Cao Gu of the Myriad Grass Everlasting Spring Valley squeezed over: "Lord Long! The Disciples of my Valley are the most meticulous and are skilled at cultivating spiritual plants and tending to medicinal gardens! If your Court has any idle spiritual fields, we are willing to contract them for free. We will not take a single cent of the produce; we only ask to let our Disciples be exposed to the Spiritual Qi of your noble land!"

"And my Thousand Illusions Sound and Rhythm Mansion! We can play music to relieve boredom for your Court!"

"My Star Array Sect can help maintain the peripheral Formations!"

"The Disciples of my Undying Golden Body Hall have great strength; we can help your Court move bricks, build walls, and tamp down foundations!"

For a time, Long Qianyuan was surrounded by the leaders of the various Holy Lands, unable to move. Various "job applications" and "cooperation proposals" flew in like snowflakes, and the conditions they offered were more outrageous than the last. The core idea was just one: begging to be taken in, begging to work, asking for no pay, only asking to mooch off some "work atmosphere"!

Long Qianyuan was so annoyed by the noise that his head felt like it was bursting. He finally understood the "suffering" Nie Li endured on a daily basis.

"Stop, stop, stop!" He finally managed to get everyone to quiet down, laughing despite himself. "Our Cloud Court has sufficient manpower; there really isn't any work that needs to be outsourced! Besides, you are all Holy Lands in your own right; coming to our place and fighting to be free labor, is that appropriate?"

"It is appropriate! Very appropriate!" The Vice Pavilion Revered Master of the Heavenly Secret Martial Arts Pavilion said with a face full of righteousness. "To be able to serve the Cloud Court is our supreme honor! Working is cultivation, and serving is comprehending the Dao!"

Everyone chimed in, their eyes burning with eagerness.

Looking at this group of Holy Land Leaders who had abandoned all shame just to "mooch off the Dao," a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Long Qianyuan. He thought of his Revered Master's previous approach to dealing with "law worms"—let the people below move on their own.

He cleared his throat and put on a serious face. "Since you all are so sincere, I actually have an idea."

Everyone immediately pricked up their ears.

"Look," Long Qianyuan pointed at his feet. "The periphery of our Cloud Court is only so big, and the resources are limited. Everyone crowding here is not a long-term solution, and it easily leads to involution... oh, that is, vicious internal competition."

The Holy Land Leaders nodded thoughtfully.

"Therefore, I suggest we can look further ahead." Long Qianyuan revealed his true intentions. "Don't you think our cloud court dao rhyme is rich and the rules are perfect? Then why not find a way to transform your own homes to be a bit more 'Cloud Court-ized'?"

"Transform our homes?" Everyone was stunned.

"Right!" Long Qianyuan began to paint a big picture. "Think about it, if your respective Holy Lands, and even the entire planes where you are located, could gradually align with the rules of the Cloud Court, becoming orderly and full of Dao Rhyme, wouldn't that be equivalent to having a 'Little Cloud Court'? Your Disciples could comprehend the Dao at home, so why would they need to crowd here?"

The Holy Land Leaders' eyes gradually lit up. This line of thinking... seemed to make some sense?

"But... Lord Long, how should we transform them?" The Master of Wan Cao Gu asked the crucial question.

"As for that..." Long Qianyuan clasped his hands behind his back, assuming the posture of an expert. "First, you must clean up the environment. I have heard that many planes have problems like 'law worms' and 'Spiritual Qi pollution,' right? First, clear out these unstable factors; this is the foundation."

"Secondly, you must establish order. You cannot be like before, where the strong prey on the weak and everything is chaotic and disorderly. You must set rules, be civilized, establish new customs, and create a harmonious and stable cultivation atmosphere. Only then can you attract and retain the Great Dao Law."

"Finally, and most importantly," Long Qianyuan lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "you must maintain... um, 'cultural exchange' with our Cloud Court. For example, regularly dispatch 'exchange students' to come here to visit and learn, or invite outstanding Disciples of our Cloud Court... uh, like me, to go to your places for 'friendly visits' to impart some advanced experience and techniques."

His words were as good as saying, "Hurry and invite us to guide your work so we can go to your place for a vacation and show off at the same time."

However, the Holy Land Leaders felt as if they had been enlightened!

"Brilliant! Lord Long's insight is profound!"

"These words are excellent! We shall return at once to reorganize our planes, clear out the worms, and establish new customs!"

"Please, Lord Long, be sure to put in a good word with the Yunting Master and dispatch envoys to come and provide guidance!"

The Holy Land Leaders were extremely excited, as if they saw the bright prospect of transforming their own planes into a "Little Cloud Court." They bid farewell one after another and hurried back to their respective Holy Lands, preparing to vigorously launch the "Plane Cloud Court-ization Transformation Movement."

Long Qianyuan watched their retreating figures and nodded with satisfaction.

"Hmm, now it's quiet. Besides, in the future, when I go out to wander, there will be a few more 'friendly planes' where I can mooch food and drinks. How delightful."

He felt that he was truly a management Genius. He had perfectly solved the employment pressure and, while he was at it, had also conducted a wave of "cultural output" for the Cloud Court—no, it was "reverse colonization."

The news spread back to the Star Gazing Hall, and Nie Li reported Long Qianyuan's "masterpiece" to Yun Feng.

Yun Feng was using the newly acquired stone table to brew tea, and he raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

"That child Qianyuan... he certainly knows how to save trouble. Let them go toss and turn on their own. Once they've finished, it will be more refreshing for us to look at."

He took a sip of tea and said indifferently: "However, tell them that sending 'exchange students' is fine, but the quality must pass muster. Don't treat our place as a garbage recycling station."

"As for sending envoys to 'provide guidance'... that will depend on the mood."